LostInCanada: Need help and direction to taper off Paroxetine

[LostInCanada]

8 hours ago, Emonda said:

 

Well done on taking the step and making a small reduction. How long ago did you do that? How are you feeling after the reduction? How long will you hold at -1.5% before considering the next steps? There is no rush as you know.  

I made the cut on Sunday so just 4 days. I was already in this mini wave but had already cut 14 pills so I went ahead with it. I have no idea if I am experiencing anything other than wave symptoms. The wave had me feeling off, with nausea, some dizziness, crying and burning feet. My burning feet has increased intensity and frequency. 

I will wait till this settles before the next cut. Just trying to find my sweet spot.

[Emonda]

Keep us posted on your progress, and remember to update your signature 😊 @LostInCanada

 

You'd expect an uptick in symptoms over the coming two-three weeks. I hope the intensity of those symptoms remains manageable.

 

Cheering for you from AUS 🤗

[AmitV]

10 hours ago, LostInCanada said:

I made the cut on Sunday so just 4 days. I was already in this mini wave but had already cut 14 pills so I went ahead with it. I have no idea if I am experiencing anything other than wave symptoms. The wave had me feeling off, with nausea, some dizziness, crying and burning feet. My burning feet has increased intensity and frequency. 

I will wait till this settles before the next cut. Just trying to find my sweet spot.

honestly it’s so hard to tell when taking something like a supplement or anything relaxing if it’s the withdrawls or the other thing not working well. It’s such a conundrum. I honestly feel you should consider stabilizing first (I mean stabilizing back to life entirely). Burning feet is a well documented neuropathy/dysautonomia symptom from SSRI or withdrawal but can also be dropping B12. 

[LostInCanada]

33 minutes ago, AmitV said:

I mean stabilizing back to life entirely). Burning feet is a well documented neuropathy/dysautonomia symptom from SSRI or withdrawal

I have read that so many never get there. Apparently it is very unlikely a reinstatement will return you to the normal before cold turkey. I have side effects from this drug, it’s one of the reasons I tried to get off it in the first place. I will reevaluate once I get through this wave or whatever this is. It’s been over 7 months…just frustrating.

[AmitV]

10 hours ago, LostInCanada said:

I have read that so many never get there. Apparently it is very unlikely a reinstatement will return you to the normal before cold turkey. I have side effects from this drug, it’s one of the reasons I tried to get off it in the first place. I will reevaluate once I get through this wave or whatever this is. It’s been over 7 months…just frustrating.

Same here, I’ve been off long enough. I know that feeling. 

[Emonda]

On 7/6/2023 at 10:06 AM, LostInCanada said:

I did a wee little dosage cut...1.5%

 

One week in @LostInCanada, how's the reduction treating you?

 

I hope you are doing ok.

[LostInCanada]

@Emonda it's okay, I can feel it, not pleasant but bearable. Some dizziness, crying, restless legs and the endless burning feet. It is hard to believe 1.7% can kick my butt. I will wait till this settles and try 1.5% next. I want to do the BMSlide. I am trying to figure out my stability and sweet spot. Slow and steady.

[Emonda]

5 hours ago, LostInCanada said:

it's okay, I can feel it, not pleasant but bearable

 

Okay and bearable is positive @LostInCanada!  

 

The BMSlide seems to work for many of us.

 

Keep up the great work 🤗

[AmitV]

12 minutes ago, Emonda said:

 

Okay and bearable is positive @LostInCanada!  

 

The BMSlide seems to work for many of us.

 

Keep up the great work 🤗

Great news on making progress!

[Cheeky]

Hey @LostInCanada

I have just read through your thread and wanted to come by and say “Hi” from a fellow Paxil user . 
This Journey is harder for us that’s been on this drug for a long time , but I have seen people that have successfully tapered off and we will eventually get there .

 

Cheeky 🍄

[Go2zero]

On 7/12/2023 at 6:15 PM, LostInCanada said:

Slow and steady.

That's the way to go. And adapt when your body is telling you!. But you know that! You are doing great! You will get there in this way! 🙏

[LostInCanada]

Day 1-4.8 mgai. Can't believe how much anxiety/stress I have due to the trauma of CT. Hopefully after a few off these drops that feeling will fade. 

[Emonda]

15 hours ago, LostInCanada said:

Day 1-4.8 mgai

 

Well done on being brave enough to take another small step @LostInCanada. Can I assume that means the last reduction remained ok/bearable?

 

I reckon trauma at the thought of each reduction, given your unpleasant CT experience, is an entirely normal response. As you get a few more bearable reductions under your belt, I'd expect that trauma will abate.

 

Keep up the good work.

[LostInCanada]

@Emonda thanks so much. I heard others say they had PTSD from CT. I have PTSD from trauma in my life but this experience has really given me a run for my money. Definitely my first drop was bearable. Hopefully this one will be okay too.

Look at you tapering away. Looks like you are doing well. Awesome 👍

[yoshi4844]

@LostInCanada How are you doing? I hope you are doing well right now. I wish you the best

[LostInCanada]

@yoshi4844 thx for asking. I am doing okay. Started a microtaper. Tomorrow I will drop a bit again. Taking it one day at a time. It's all we can do. 👍

[LostInCanada]

Yesterday dropped to 4.6 mg. Feeling very dizzy today. Think I might do a 2 week hold here just to help this settle down. It seems to be a symptom that has occurred with every cut but it was still lingering from the last reduction and now has intensified.

[Emonda]

Loving your updates @LostInCanada. Completely relate to the lingering symptoms from previous weekly cuts. 

 

You are an inspiration and encouragement to so many.

 

[LostInCanada]

Day 9 since my last cut. Starting to feel some improvement. Going to hold at least another week or two. My drops were about 1.8% so I guess I will be going smaller. Somewhere between 1.25-1.5%. Got to find that sweet spot. I also realize my symptoms stick around past day 7 so might hold 10 days a cut. Still trying to figure it out for sure.

[Emonda]

Hi there @LostInCanada,

I am so glad to read that you are making progress / starting to see some improvement. Finding that 'sweet spot', I hear you. Sometimes you think you've found it, and the goalposts shift a little. I've recently had to remind myself that this journey is not linear. We've got to remind ourselves to be patient and listen to our bodies. If in doubt, hold a little longer is my new motto, I think!

 

Loving your updates👍

[LostInCanada]

@Emonda thanks. I always appreciate the reminders and hearing from you. Last night after amped up dizziness, etc I realized I was in a wave. Guess I had been concentrating so hard on looking for WD that I forgot about waves...lol. 

[Emonda]

Hi there @LostInCanada,

Thanks for dropping past my page to say hi. 

 

I'm sorry to read that you continue to be in a bit of a wave. The good news is that you know the wave will lift in time.

 

As we said last time we chatted, sometimes you've got to adjust your taper to find a sweet spot. In search of my sweet spot, next reduction, I've decided to drop 2% for three consecutive weeks, followed by a 2-week hold in an attempt to avoid what I find to be a difficult 4th weekly drop...time will tell).

 

Do you keep a mood diary? I've found it beneficial as I can see a correlation between the stage I was at with my taper and my mood.

 

You're doing great, LostInCanada. We will get there.

[LostInCanada]

9 hours ago, Emonda said:

Do you keep a mood diary? I've found it beneficial as I can see a correlation between the stage I was at with my taper and my mood.

I made a spreadsheet with the date/symptoms and then I put a number value between 1-10. I also write a couple sentences for each day so I know what might be trigger or something good. I have alot of rough day and blahs aha. But yes it does help. 

We will get there 👍

[LostInCanada]

Just an update: still holding. It's been just over 3 weeks. Dizziness, crying and just overall feeling off is still more than I would like. A couple weeks ago had what seemed like a UTI and have since discovered others on paroxetine get fake UTIs from WD. Had something similar at the beginning of my reinstatement. It is a hard pill to swallow thinking I have to taper even slower than I am. I just have to remember every drop is a win. But some days it's hard. 

[Go2zero]

Hi @LostInCanada, you are doing great. You have been so long (over 20 years) on paroxetine. We both know how difficult it is for most people to taper this one. You are not to blame, because you did not know by then, that you went up and down in dosage several times 1 - 1 1/2 year ago. And you got on and off Prozac as well a few times in this period.

 

1 - 1 1/2 year ago is not long when tapering. All these changes you made are relatively recent. You are most probably still in your first stabilising period. Give it time. I know how frustrating this may sound. I understand where you are. I have been tapering for 6 years in a row now. And I started then with only 2,5mg lexapro. I made many mistakes with the knowledge I have now (like a prozac switch...).

 

You are showing clear signs of recovery. You are having windows now and then. Furthermore you have such a good attitude in your tapering! You will stabilise and you will probably also have fall backs again. You know, that is how healing from WD works. Some day the windows will get longer and the waves less high. You know that! But I just wanted to tell you again... You are doing great!

[LostInCanada]

Thanks so much @Go2zero. It's always great hearing from you and getting encouragement. I have to be patient, something I am not good at. Now proactive means waiting and healing. 👍💯🙏

[Go2zero]

I am not saying that its is easy. But something that really helps is Acceptance. With that I mean acceptance as also Claire Weekes teaches us. 

 

Fighting something (or not accepting) nearly always makes it worse. Giving negative feelings attention amplifies them. Accepting them makes them softer. 

 

Probably you know this. And as said it may not be easy in the beginning. But practicing Acceptance has helped me so much in my process.... 🙏

[Emonda]

Morning @LostInCanada, actually I guess it's afternoon where you are!

 

4 hours ago, LostInCanada said:

I just have to remember every drop is a win. But some days it's hard. 

 

I like that phrase; every drop is a win. That's such a positive way of describing this process. And yes, some days and weeks, it is harder.

 

I just went and re-read the types of withdrawal symptoms listed on various symptom checklists we've both read. It's a helpful reminder that you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms, and it's part of the process = progress. And, as Go2zero said, you're making such great progress.

 

When I feel a little discouraged, I go and read some of the success stories. Given how long we've both been on ADs, I take such comfort in reading the success of others who have 30 + year journeys (Shep's success story comes to mind).

 

Sending you warm wishes from AUS 😊

 

 

[LostInCanada]

@Emondathanks so much. Great suggestion..Shep's is a good one. No pain, no gain. Just was wishing I was the exception lol 

[Carmie]

Thanks a lot for coming around to my neck of the woods dear @LostInCanada, I’m sorry you’re feeling a bit stressed about your tapering. It can be a very slow and long process. My tapering is the same, teeny tiny drops and then holding most of the time for a month and a half after every drop. 
 

I came on this site in 2018 and I was down to 7.5mg, I’m now at 3.35mg. The way I’m going I’ll be tapering another decade or more, probably more. My body is hypersensitive because of all the meds I’ve been put on and off. I started at 300mg of Seroquel, so I was tapering for many years before I even came on this site. 
 

It looks like you’ve got some beautiful people supporting you here, sending you hugs🤗

[LostInCanada]

@Carmiethanks so much, you are such a sweetheart. I needed your kind words today.♥️ Slow and steady for us both.💯

[LostInCanada]

Update for myself. August 19 I got multiple wasp stings. I took one child's Benadryl which I later say had sucralose. On August 21, I started getting shivers and anxiety starting anywhere from midnight on and lasting on and off till "waking" at 8am. This is still happening nightly and I am having anxiety throughout the day. Don't know if the benadryl is at the root of this development.

[Shep]

@LostInCanada Do you have a history of being allergic to bees? If not, it could have been the Benadryl and / or the trauma of being bitten by multiple wasps. That sounds really painful. 

 

It seems like if it was the Benadryl, the upticks in symptoms would have happened sooner (you took it on August 19 but didn't have the symptoms until August 21st). That being said, nothing is surprising during withdrawal. 

 

Since that was back in the middle of August, has it gotten any better or is it still as intense? Has anything else changed, such as diet, life stressors, supplements, etc.? 

[LostInCanada]

No changes in diet, stressors, supplements. It was painful lol. I was only ever stung once as a kid but this swelled up right away. Last night, this morning was less intense. Only today did I think there might be a connection. I've been in a wave for weeks and it kind of morphed into this so who knows. 

[Soup]

@LostInCanada sorry to hear about your wasp encounter there sure seem to be a lot of them this year and of course always nasty . I hope 

your system continues to settle 

down 

[Emonda]

Oh, dear @LostInCanada!

 

I was only thinking about you yesterday and wondered how you were doing.

 

As you said to me a little while back, "Never a dull moment, is there".

 

Continue to be patient as you have been, and stability will return. You've dropped 8% since 1 July...every drop is a win...a wise lady said to me recently from the other side of the world 😉

 

Wishing you a speedy recovery, then continued slow tapering, one drop at a time.

 

Emonda